Published: Friday, November 29, 2013 at 5:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 29, 2013 at 5:55 p.m.

This photo, taken Nov. 29, 2013 in Ocala, shows, left to right, William "Bill" Wollenberg, Manoogian's wife, Angele, and Megerdich "Mike" Manoogian.

Andy Fillmore/Correspondent

Manoogian recently reconnected with the captain, now retired colonel, who provided invaluable help when Manoogian was a U.S. Army private.

Back then, Manoogian spoke broken English and had yet to become an American citizen. But with the help of William "Bill" Wollenberg, Manoogian married his childhood sweetheart, Angele, on Nov. 7, 1961.

Wollenberg, now 82, came from his home in Colorado to join the Manoogians and their family in Ocala for a Thanksgiving feast of food — and memories.

Manoogian now owns the Mobil station on Baseline Road near the landfill. He and his wife have raised three sons and have seven grandchildren.

"I promised the captain if he helped me I would work at making a good family in America and make him proud," Manoogian recalled. "I felt like I had a big hole in my heart until now, when I told the captain I kept my promise."

Wollenberg was an honored guest among the Manoogian clan. It was the first time he had seen the Manoogians in 52 years, although the families did keep in touch by mail until around 1967, when Wollenberg served the first of two tours of duty in the Vietnam War.

"Every time a child had a milestone, like a school or college graduation, I tried to find my friend the captain and let him know. When we did I was so happy," Manoogian said.

"We found him recently through the Internet. We saw the obituary for his wife, Doris, who passed away in May 2012," said Angele Manoogian.

Megerdich Manoogian, 76, was born in Syria to Armenian parents who came to the U.S. in 1960.

"I promised an American ambassador in Syria if he helped me obtain a visa to join my parents I would volunteer for the U.S. Army and be a good soldier and make him proud. My father had waited 35 years to go to the U.S. I got the visa and joined my parents, Kevork and Varsenig Manoogian, late in 1960. Right away I signed up for the Army and told the ambassador I fulfilled my promise," Manoogian said.

He had known Angele since she was about 5, but the two became separated when Megerdich left to join his parents in the U.S. They continued to communicate by letter.

When Manoogian left New Jersey on a troop ship for Germany, he suggested she meet him there since he would be three quarters of the way to her.

Angele was a resident of Beirut, Lebanon, while her future husband was serving in Amberg.

"I was taking an English course which was taught by Doris Wollenberg, William's wife. She taught school for children on the base and held a crash course in English in summer for GIs," Manoogian recalled.

"One part was writing a 10-line essay. I wrote 'How I Became Separated From the Girl I Love' and Mrs. Wollenberg took it to heart," Manoogian said.

"She was impressed and asked me to stay after class. She asked, 'Is it true?' " Manoogian said.

Manoogian related the difficulties encountered by any GI getting married in his situation. Doris Wollenberg enlisted her husband, who was base commander.

"It was difficult even for a GI marrying a girl from a NATO country to get an OK and be married in less than four months," Manoogian recalled.

"The captain (Wollenberg) called me to his office and just said, 'Let me see what I can do,' " Manoogian said.

"It wasn't uncommon then to see these situations with a lot of young soldiers, many who were drafted, wanting to get married. We would counsel soldiers," Wollenberg recalled.

The mission of the base was primarily border patrol during the Iron Curtain era. They were along the border with Czechoslovakia where barbed wire separated the countries.

Wollenberg came to the base office, which was filled with typists, and told the sergeant — who had said the application would take forever — to put the application through and that he would personally guarantee Angele's clearance, which was required for the marriage.

"He said we would be good citizens," Manoogian said.

"(Wollenberg) sent his own military driver to help me find a place for Angele to live off base when it was very hard for American GIs to find private housing in Germany. His driver negotiated with the local people," Manoogian said.

The story took a funny turn — in hindsight, at least — when Wollenberg chewed out a base chaplain who was declining to help in the marriage effort because Manoogian and his future wife weren't Catholic.

Wollenberg said the chaplain was a "contract chaplain" due to a shortage of clergy in the military at the time.

"He was obliged to help my soldiers regardless of race, creed or color," Wollenberg said.

Manoogian said on the day of the wedding, guard duty made him late. Just before the ceremony, when he realized he had no rings, he ran to a nearby jewelry store and purchased a pair for $15.

After about two years in the Army, the Manoogians settled in the Detroit area, where he worked as a barber and real estate speculator. He retired to the Ocala area in 1991 but never forgot "his promise to the captain to be a good citizen."

Over the holiday Wollenberg caught up with the rest of the story. The Manoogians have three sons: Ara, 50, Vrej, 49, and Armen, 39.

"Armen is a businessman and historian, Vrej an orthopedic surgeon, and Ara a lawyer. We have three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren," said Manoogian, his eyes welling with tears.

<p>Megerdich "Mike" Manoogian has finally filled the big hole in his heart — after more than half a century of waiting.</p><p>Manoogian recently reconnected with the captain, now retired colonel, who provided invaluable help when Manoogian was a U.S. Army private.</p><p>Back then, Manoogian spoke broken English and had yet to become an American citizen. But with the help of William "Bill" Wollenberg, Manoogian married his childhood sweetheart, Angele, on Nov. 7, 1961.</p><p>Wollenberg, now 82, came from his home in Colorado to join the Manoogians and their family in Ocala for a Thanksgiving feast of food — and memories.</p><p>Manoogian now owns the Mobil station on Baseline Road near the landfill. He and his wife have raised three sons and have seven grandchildren.</p><p>"I promised the captain if he helped me I would work at making a good family in America and make him proud," Manoogian recalled. "I felt like I had a big hole in my heart until now, when I told the captain I kept my promise."</p><p>Wollenberg was an honored guest among the Manoogian clan. It was the first time he had seen the Manoogians in 52 years, although the families did keep in touch by mail until around 1967, when Wollenberg served the first of two tours of duty in the Vietnam War.</p><p>"Every time a child had a milestone, like a school or college graduation, I tried to find my friend the captain and let him know. When we did I was so happy," Manoogian said.</p><p>"We found him recently through the Internet. We saw the obituary for his wife, Doris, who passed away in May 2012," said Angele Manoogian.</p><p>Megerdich Manoogian, 76, was born in Syria to Armenian parents who came to the U.S. in 1960.</p><p>"I promised an American ambassador in Syria if he helped me obtain a visa to join my parents I would volunteer for the U.S. Army and be a good soldier and make him proud. My father had waited 35 years to go to the U.S. I got the visa and joined my parents, Kevork and Varsenig Manoogian, late in 1960. Right away I signed up for the Army and told the ambassador I fulfilled my promise," Manoogian said.</p><p>He had known Angele since she was about 5, but the two became separated when Megerdich left to join his parents in the U.S. They continued to communicate by letter.</p><p>When Manoogian left New Jersey on a troop ship for Germany, he suggested she meet him there since he would be three quarters of the way to her.</p><p>Angele was a resident of Beirut, Lebanon, while her future husband was serving in Amberg.</p><p>"I was taking an English course which was taught by Doris Wollenberg, William's wife. She taught school for children on the base and held a crash course in English in summer for GIs," Manoogian recalled.</p><p>"One part was writing a 10-line essay. I wrote 'How I Became Separated From the Girl I Love' and Mrs. Wollenberg took it to heart," Manoogian said.</p><p>"She was impressed and asked me to stay after class. She asked, 'Is it true?' " Manoogian said.</p><p>Manoogian related the difficulties encountered by any GI getting married in his situation. Doris Wollenberg enlisted her husband, who was base commander.</p><p>"It was difficult even for a GI marrying a girl from a NATO country to get an OK and be married in less than four months," Manoogian recalled.</p><p>"The captain (Wollenberg) called me to his office and just said, 'Let me see what I can do,' " Manoogian said.</p><p>"It wasn't uncommon then to see these situations with a lot of young soldiers, many who were drafted, wanting to get married. We would counsel soldiers," Wollenberg recalled.</p><p>The mission of the base was primarily border patrol during the Iron Curtain era. They were along the border with Czechoslovakia where barbed wire separated the countries.</p><p>Wollenberg came to the base office, which was filled with typists, and told the sergeant — who had said the application would take forever — to put the application through and that he would personally guarantee Angele's clearance, which was required for the marriage.</p><p>"He said we would be good citizens," Manoogian said.</p><p>"(Wollenberg) sent his own military driver to help me find a place for Angele to live off base when it was very hard for American GIs to find private housing in Germany. His driver negotiated with the local people," Manoogian said.</p><p>The story took a funny turn — in hindsight, at least — when Wollenberg chewed out a base chaplain who was declining to help in the marriage effort because Manoogian and his future wife weren't Catholic.</p><p>Wollenberg said the chaplain was a "contract chaplain" due to a shortage of clergy in the military at the time.</p><p>"He was obliged to help my soldiers regardless of race, creed or color," Wollenberg said.</p><p>Manoogian said on the day of the wedding, guard duty made him late. Just before the ceremony, when he realized he had no rings, he ran to a nearby jewelry store and purchased a pair for $15.</p><p>After about two years in the Army, the Manoogians settled in the Detroit area, where he worked as a barber and real estate speculator. He retired to the Ocala area in 1991 but never forgot "his promise to the captain to be a good citizen."</p><p>Over the holiday Wollenberg caught up with the rest of the story. The Manoogians have three sons: Ara, 50, Vrej, 49, and Armen, 39.</p><p>"Armen is a businessman and historian, Vrej an orthopedic surgeon, and Ara a lawyer. We have three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren," said Manoogian, his eyes welling with tears.</p><p>"I feel like the hole in my heart has been filled now," he said.</p>